Gefaseerde waterval met houten dammen die het water geleiden Possibly 1858 - 1859

Curator: Here we have "Gefaseerde waterval met houten dammen die het water geleiden," or "Stepped Waterfall with Wooden Dams Guiding the Water," potentially created between 1858 and 1859 by Johannes Tavenraat. It’s an ink drawing, currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Chaotic grace, if that makes sense. It’s a tangle of lines that somehow manages to conjure the sensation of rushing water. Kind of like looking at a musical score for a waterfall. Curator: Interesting. Note the almost obsessive linearity of the wooden dams against the more freely rendered rock formations. This tension serves as a critical formal element, mediating between the geometry of human intervention and nature’s inherent chaos. Editor: See, I didn't catch all of that with my eye right off. For me, the lack of detail, that unfinished feel, kind of speaks to the fleeting nature of observation. Like Tavenraat was trying to capture a memory, or an impression. The dams look less sturdy, and more temporary. Curator: Perhaps. One might also interpret the sketch-like quality as a conscious aesthetic choice aligning with Romantic ideals— prioritizing the sublime experience over photographic accuracy. The use of line becomes paramount. Editor: True, that aligns well, too. I just love that it leaves so much to the imagination. Is it the start of something grand or has nature just already worn all these damns away with time and torrents. There’s a hint of melancholy, I guess. The fragility of it all. Curator: That’s a pertinent reading. This drawing utilizes simple materials, ink on paper, and elementary lines to construct a multi-layered landscape. Its power rests precisely in this visual economy and directness. Editor: Right, that limitation lets us focus and ask: What does permanence mean when standing right in front of a waterfall? Curator: An excellent question to ponder, and the drawing provides a fertile ground for such contemplations. Thank you for lending your creative vision to the dialogue. Editor: Thanks to you, it’s always a journey to unpack art this way.